Tire building machine



Aug. 12, 1941. w. J BRETH ETAL TIRE BUILDING MACHINE I Filed 001. 14, 1938 9 Shnn'i-s-Sheet 1 vAug. 12, 1941. w. J BRETH r 2,251,904

TIRE BUILDING MACHINE Filed 0012. 14, 1938 9 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORS WALTER J- BRETH MAX ENGLER BY HERMAN 1-.

ATTORNEYS TIRE BUILDING MACHINE INVENTORS WALTER J. BRETH MAX ENGLER BY HERMAN T. KRAFT I W 7 24 ATTORNEYS Aug. 12, 1941. w. \J. BRETH- ET AL 2,251,904

TIRE BUILDING MACHINE Filed 001:. 14 195 9 Sheets-Sheet 5 'INVENTORS W R J. BRETH MAX ENGLER BY HERMAN T- KRAFT W. J. BRETH ETAL TIRE BUILDING MACHINE Filed Oct. 14, 1938 9 Sheets-Sheet 6 I l I a, I, I F1 .EU

J INVENTORS WALTER J. BRETH BY wa a mfifi -l a 'r [04 K ,AF

6% Y ATTORNEYS Aug. 12, 1941. w. J. BRETH EIAL TIRE BUILDING MACHINE 14, 193 8 9- Sheets-Sheet 7 Filed Oct.

T F H mm wbfl M \Z i v w a 5 m 9Q m umv m NEE w l WAAE A wMH Y B -Aug. 12, 1941. W J BRETH ETAL 2,251,904

TIRE BUILDING MACHINE I Filed Oct. 14, 1938 9 Sheets-Sheet 8 NVENTORs WALTER J BRET MAX NeLER BY HERMAN KRHFT 71% ORNEYs 2, 4 w. J. BRETH ETAL 2,251,904

TIRE BUILDING MACHINE Filed oct. 14,. 1938 9 sheets-sheet 9 4 A r Fi 3a I HE INVENTORS WAL'YLR .1. BRETH MAX ENGLER BY HERMAN T-HRAFT ATTORNEYS Patented Aug. 12, 1941 TIRE BUILDING MACHINE Walter J. Broth, Max Engler, and Herman T. Kraft, Akron, Ohio, assignors to The General Tire & Rubber Company, Akron, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application October 14, 1938, serial No. 234,980

13 Claims.

This invention relates to tire building machines of the drum type in which the tire carcass is built upon a core of substantially cylindrical form and has for its object to provide a machine of relatively simple construction by which the building up of the fabric and rubber layers of tie tire carcass, the application of beads to the tire, and other operations are greatly facilitated.

More specifically, the invention has for an object to provide means by which the operations incident to the formation of the bead portions of the tire may be performed more rapidly and with less labor than heretofore required.

Further specific objects of the invention are to simplify the application of the bead wire to the fabric, to provide a simple and effective means for quickly folding the edge portions of the fabric over the bead rings and applying the edge portions of the body of the carcass inwardly of the beads, and to provide a construction which permits of quick removal of the tire carcass after the building operation is completed.

With the above and other objects in view, the invention may be said to comprise the machine as illustrated in the accompanying drawings, hereinafter described and particularly set forth in the appended claims, together with such variations and modifications thereof as will be apparent to one skilled in the art to which the invention appertains. Reference should be had to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification in which- Figure 1 is a side elevation of the machine embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the machine;

Fig. 3 is a front elevation of the machine with the fabric feed conveyor omitted;

Fig. 4 is a side elevation of a device for applying solvent to material .on the tire building core;

Fig. 5 is a top plan view of the solvent-applying device;

Fig. 6 is a vertical section taken on the line indicated at 8-6 of Figs. 3 and 7 v Fig. 7 is a section taken on the line indicated at 'I-l in Fig. 6; a

Fig. 8 is a section taken on the line indicated 7 atllinFigs.3 and 11;

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary section taken on the line indicated at 8-9 in Fig. 8;

Fig. 10 is a diagrammatic sectional viewshowing the manner in which flipper and chafer strip are fed to the tire building core;

Fig. 11 is a section taken on the line indicated at li-ll in Fig. 8;

Fig. 12 is a fragmentary front elevation showing two of the shiftable strip-retaining guides for the flipper and chafer strips;

Fig. 13 is, a fragmentary view on an enlarged scale, showing one of the strip-retaining guides in position for feeding strip fabric to the tire building core;

Fig. 14 is a section taken on the line indicated at [4-44 in Fig. 13;

Fig. 15 is an enlarged view taken on the line indicated at |5-l5 in Fig. 2 showing the main tire building drum in section and the bead stock feeding mechanism in side elevation;

Fig. 16 is an enlarged section taken on the line indicated at Iii-I6 in Fig. 15 showing the manner in which the bead stock is applied to the stock on the core to form the bead rings;

Fig. 17 is a section taken on the line indicated at Il|l in Fig. 15;

Fig. 18 shows the wire-bending rollers in side elevation on an enlarged scale;

Fig. 19 is a sectional view showing the pivot of the arm which carries rollers for pressing the bead stock against the fabric on the tire building core;

Fig. 20 is a section taken on the line at 20-20 in Fig. 19;

, Fig. 21 is a plan view of the tire building core comprising a main drum'and auxiliary drums at the ends of the main drum;

Fig. 22 shows the driving connection between the abutting ends of the main drum shaft and an aligned shaft carrying an auxiliary drum;

Fig. 23 is an end elevation of the'main drum shaft;

Fig. 24 is an end elevation of the split rubber sleeve employed on the maintire building drum;

Fig. 25 is a front elevation of the movable auxiliary drum and the slide upon which it is carried;

Fig. 26 is a section taken on the line indicated at 26-26 in Fig. 25;

Fig. 2'7 is a plan view of the tire building core with the rubber annuli carried by the auxiliary drums inflated;

Fig. 28 is a fragmentary axial section through the core at one end of the main tire building drumshowing a partially formed tire casing with a bead ring in place thereon, with the edges of the fabric overlying the inflatable annulus on one of the auxiliary drums;

. Fig. 29 is a section corresponding to Fig. 28 showing the annulus forced axially over the main tire building drum, and the fabric folded over the bead ring; Fig. 30 is a plan view of a modified construc- "ence lett'e I of the supporting brackets.

the inflated annuli over the ends ofthe main tire building drum; 1

Y Fig. 31 is a plan view showing one of the in-.

fla'ted shoulder-forming annuli forced over an end I of the main drumby the inflation of a second an nulus mounted on-theauxiliary drum;

Fig. 32 is a diagrammatic plan view of the fluid .ou's controlling "cylinders; I 1

Fig.,33 is. a'sectional view taken on the line change speed mechanism The machine herein illustrated comprises a rotatable tire building core of the drum type.

indicated generally in Figs. -1 and 2 by the refer- I 9. ply stock feed mechanism in-' dicated generally in Figs. 1' and 2 by the reference letter B; a .bead stock feed mechanism indicated generally in Figs. 1 and 2'by the reference letter. C"; and a feed mechanism for the flipper and chafer stock, indicated generally in Figs. 1 and 2 by the reference letter "D. fee'd'mechanisms .B, C and D serve to supply stock as needed to'the tire building core A. The

tire building core A and feed'mechanisms'C and chain 25. 'The drum shaft 4 is driven from the i pressure connections for supplying air under shaft. 24, through a change speed mechanism j pressure'tothe inflatable annuli and to the varisprocket chain '38 runsover I I and over a large sprocket 33 fixed to the shaft 31..-v

The shaft 31 hasathirdisprocket 4'I I fixed there- Daremounted one. frame land the ply stock feed mechanism B is supported upon a separate frame 2 spaced from the front of theframe I.

Upon the frame I there is mounted a main tire building drum 3 fixed to a'transverse shaft 4,

the shaft 4 being supported at its outer end by spaced bearing'bra'ckets. 5 and the drum 3 being secured to the inner end of the shaft 4 inwardly The ply .stock feed mechanism B comprises an endless feed belt li mounted on a frame I which is connected bye/horizontal pivot tothe upper end of the frame 2. The frame 2 is slidably mounted upon a base 9 and may be adjusted toward or away from the frame I by means of an adjusting "screw IIJ. The pivotal mounting of the ply stock'feed conveyor permits the same to be moved up out of the way, so that the operator can stand in front of the tire building drum in a position convenient for controlling the application of flipper and chafer strips, the formingof the bead rings, and other operations. I

through a suitable reduction gearing in a housing 2|.- As best shown in Figs. 1 and 6, the shaft 20 drives a transverse shaft 22 journaled in the lower portion of the frame I through asprocket chain 23.. The shaft 22 drives a shaft 24 journaled in v the frame above the shaft 22 through a sprocket which provides two speeds. -A sliding clutch sleeve shaft 24. The sliding clutch sleeve'26 is shifted the opposite directionto engage the clutch membars 28 and 30. The clutch member, 29 carries 7 a large sprocket 33' and the clutch member 30* carries a small sprocket 34. 'A- sprocket chain" 35.

runs over the large-sprocket 33 and ya verse shaft .3I mountj. f-

"of theshaft'lt, ,A'

the small sprocket 34.-,

sprocket 36 fixed t ed on the framef to which-drives a sprocket chain 4| a sprocket 42 fixed to the shaft 4.

When the :clutch memb'r's'ZIan'd 29' are 'en-. gaged, the shaft 31 is driven'rat a higher speed than the shaft 24 throughthesprockt chain 35. I When the clutch members 28 and 3|) are engaged 1 the shaft 31 is driven at a lower speed than the shaft 24 through the chain 38.."W-henthe clutch members 21 and29 are engaged and clutch mem Two bead stock reels II are removably androtatably supported upon the upper end of a standard I2 carried by'the frame I rearwardly of the drum 3, the reels being positioned to deliver strips of bead stock simultaneously to upposite ends of .the main drum to form bead rings upon the previously applied fabric 'near the edges thereof.

' Four reels I3 carrying flipper and chafer strip stock are cradled on supporting rollers I4 in the lower portion of the frame I adjacent the rear thereof. over driven feed rollers I5 and I6 to the bead portions of the tire being formed on the drum 3. The flipper and chafer strips are strips of rubber 23 is disengaged from the clutch member 3|), I the sprocket 33 is free to. turn'upon' the shaft .24, Likewise, when the clutch members 28 and 30' I are engaged the sprocket '32 is free to turn upon the shaft 24. Sprocket 42 on is driven at a higher speed than the shaft '24 through the sprocket chains 35 and 4|, and at alowerspeed than the-- shaft 24 through the sprocket chains 38 and 4|. The sprocket 42 is'rotatable on the shaft 4, being carried by a friction-clutch element 43." A sliding clutch element 44 is splinedto theshaft 4 andis movable intoand out'of engagement with the clutch member 43 by means of a hand lever 45.

By means of the manually, operable clutch the operator may engage or disengage the drum shaft 4 from the driving mechanism at any time. "By

The fiipper'and chafer strips'areled berized fabric Wound with fabric liners on the reels I3. Four liner reels mounted on the frame I above the reels I3 serve to wind up the liners as the stock is fedfrom the reels I3." Twoof the reels I'I are set below and rearwardly of the other two liner reels I8 to facilitate removal and replacement of the reels. I

The tire building drum, the feed rollers f0 flipper and chafer strips and the liner wind up reels are power driven. Power is applied through means of the cylinder 32the operator may actu-' ate the shiftable sleeve 21 to drive the drum shaft I at the high or low speed as-desired. 1 1. The feed rollers I5 and I6 and the liner wind up reels I1 and I8 aredriven from the shaft 22 through a spr0cket46, which is rotatably mount-f ed on the shaft 22 and which has a clutch face I 41 adapted to be engaged by a clutch element 48, splined to the shaft 22; The clutch element 48 is shifted into and outof clutching position I by means of a lever49, which'is normally held in clutch disengaging position by means of a spring 50. The lever 49 is actuated in opposition "to the spring 50 to shift theclutch member- 48 to engaging position by means of a fluid cylinder 5|, as best shown in Fig. 7;

As best shown in Fig. 8,.a'sprocket chain 52 two sprocket chains 54, which run over sprockets 55. on the shafts 56 and 51 of. the liner reels I1 I by means of a lever 3|" which is pivoted to the r- 'ffame and actuated 'by means of a fluid pressure cylinder 32"to shift the'lever 3| in one direction to engage the clutch members 21 and 29 and in w running over I pressure and I8. The shaft 53 of the upper'fee d rollers I8 has a sprocket at each end and one sprocket a. solvent to the material on the core. The .sol-

' vent applying means comprises a solvent recepchain 54 is driven by each end of the shaft 53, I

nection which is shown in detail in Fig. 9. This slip connection comprises a friction disk 58 rotatable on the shaft 55 or 51 and carrying a sprocket 55. The friction disk 58 has face-toface engagement with a friction disk 59 fixed to the shaft and is pressed toward the disk 59 by means of a spring 58 interposed between the hub of the disk 58 and a collar 5| adjustably secured to the shaft. By adjusting the collar 5| the tension of the spring 58 may be varied. The frictional drive for the liner reels permits any one of the reels to slip with respect to its driving sprocket when a suflicient amount of tension on the liner strip resists rotation of the reel.

As best shown in Fig. 11, the lower feed roller I5 is driven from the shaft 53 of the upper roller I5 through a. gear 52 on the shaft 53 which meshes with a gear 53 on a countershaft 54 and a sprocket chain 55 connecting the shaft 54 to the shaft of the lower roller. As best shown in Fig. the stock from the reels I3 passes under the feed roller I5 and over the top of the feed roller I5. The liner strips pass rearwardly over the top of the feed roller I5 to the reels I1 and I8. To prevent contact between the tacky flipper or chafer stock on .the opposite sides of the feed roller I5, and also to prevent the stock from being carried around the under side of the roller I each chain 54, driving a liner reel I1 and-a liner table 13 mounted on the frame .I immediately beneath the drum 3. This container carries a wick 14 which has a projecting edge extending parallel with the drum and of a length substantially equal to the length of the drum 8. The

container 13 is carried on a transverse pivot 15 and is adapted to be swung upwardly by means of a lever 15 to bring the wick 14 into engagement with the material on the drum 3.

A stitching device of conventional design is employed to press the superposed layers of stock together upon the drum. This device comprises a pair of conical faced stitching disks 11 rotatably mounted on the outer end of arms 11 which-are pivoted to the upper ends of laterally swinging arms 18 which are fixed to parallel shafts 88 journalled in a frame 8| which is carried upon a transverse rock shaft 82. Intermeshing gear segments 83 and 84 are fixed to the shafts 88 so that the swinging arms 19 are constrained to move simultaneously toward or away from each other. A link 85 connects each of the disk carrying arms 18 to the frame 8| to maintain the stitching disks 11 in proper position during their lateral movements. The frame 8| is rocked by means of a fluid pressure cylinder to swing the frame 8| and stitching disks 15 vertically toward or away from the tire building core. The frame 8| carries a rack 81 which I5 by adhesion, athird feed roller 58 is provided beneath the roller I5 and this roller is driven at a speed slightly higher than the speed of the roller I5 by means of a belt 51 passing over the rollers I5 and 55 at one end thereof.

stock on the drum when desired. This supporting means is in the form of strip retainingarms 58 pivotally and slidably mounted on a transverse shaft 59 mounted on the frame below the tire building drum. Four arms 58 are provided and each of these arms may be adjusted laterally on the shaft 59 to feed the strips to the desired portion of the tire building drum. Each arm 4 58 carries a strip guide 18 adjacent its outer end which is formed of sheet metal and bent to pro-. vide a strip receiving channel of a depth substantially equal to the width of the strip. At

the inner ends of the arms 18 channel guide members 1| and' 12 are provided which are disposed oppositely with respect to the guide 18 so as to hold the strip against lateral movement in passing through the guides. The arms 58 normally depend vertically from the shaft 59 and retain the forward ends of the strips during the interval between the application of these strips to .the stock on the core. The strip feed mechanism is preferably so operated as to maintain a festoon between the holder 58 and the feed roller I5 which will supply the desired length of flipper or chafer strip to the core.

In order to insure a strong adhesion between layers of rubber and rubberized fabric on the tire building core, means is provided for applying is parallel to the shaft 82 and which is guided for endwise movement in the frame. meshes with gear segment 84 and is actuated through suitable gearing from a hand wheel 89 positioned at the front of the frame I and carried by the rocking frame 8|. By actuating the frame 8| by means of the fluid pressure cylinder 85 the stitcher disk may be pressed against the material on the core. By operating the hand wheel 88 the stitcher disk can be moved back and forth across the face of the core.

The bead stock is in the form of rubber coated wires, as herein shown, it consists of a strip formed of a plurality of parallel metal wires embedded in rubber. The head stock strips pass fromthe reels II through eyes 89 each carried by a collar 98 adjustably mounted on a transverse shaft 9I carried by the frame I2. The collar 98 is provided with a set screw 92 so that it may be adjusted longitudinally on the shaft 9|.

By adjusting the collar 98 the strips of bead stock may be delivered from the reels II at a. distance apart suitable for the particular tire being built. As best shown in Fig. 15 the strips of bead stock pass rearwardly from the eyes 89 over and under a tensioning roller 93 which is rotatable on a sleeve 94 mounted on a transverse shaft 95 mounted in the frame I2. The sleeve 94 is adapted to be positioned on the shaft 95 to aline the roller 93 with the eye I83. The periphery of .the roller 93 is provided with a peripheral groove 91 which serves to guide the strip. A friction brake is provided to retard the rotation of the roller 93 so as to apply a tension to the bead stock between the roller 93 and the tire building drum 3. The friction brake comprises a disk 98 slidably mounted on the sleeve 94 and engaging the outer face of the roller 93, the disk 98 being pressed inwardly against the outer face of the roller 93 by means of the spring 99, the

inner face of the roller 93 engaging a disk I88 formed integrally with a frame I8I which is scoured to the sleeve 94 by means of a nut I82. The frame I8I has a projection I83 which is slidable The rack upon the shaft 9|, the shafts 9| and 95 proover the roller I04 at the inner side of the flange I I06 over the outer roller I and back under and over the roller I04 outside the flange I06 and then over the top of the roller I05. A spring I01 attached to the frame 'IOI overlies the top of the roller I05 to hold the strip thereon. The wire stock passing around the bending rollers I04 is given a bend in the direction in which the wire is'wound on the tire building drum so that when the wire is passed over the drum 3 it tends to assume the curvature to which it has been bent and tends to grip the surface of the stock to which it is applied. The frame I2 has a for-- wardly projecting arm I08 which carries a transverse shaft I09 upon which are adjustably mounted a pair of roller carrying arms I I0. Each" arm has a bearing portion I I I slidably and rotatably mounted on the shaft I09. adjacent its outer end a roller II2 which is adapted, when the arm is swung down toward the drum, to bear against the surface of a strip of be ad stock being wound on the core. At the outer end of each arm IIO there is a pivoted extension II3 which carries a second pressure roller 4 and each of the extensions has a hand grip portion I I5 by means of which the operator may press the rollers H2 and H4 against a strip of bead stock as it is being wound uponihe core. The arms IIO are laterally adjustable so that they may be alined with the bead receiving grooves of the tire building core.

In starting the bead stock on the core the arms I I0 are swung downward and the rollers H2 .and H4 are pressed against the bead stock until the first convolution of the bead stock is applied to the drum, whereupon the arm H0 is swung up to the dotted line position shown in Fig. 15, and the bead ring is built up by winding 9. number of layers of the bead stock in superposed convolutions. As shown in Fig. 16'the bead stock is applied in a channel formed in the fabric plies at each end ofthe main drum 3 of the core. The tension applied to the bead wires and the bending of the wires on their way to the tire building drum insures a tight winding of the superposed convolutions to form an inextensible bead ring. Means is provided for supporting the arms H0 in their inoperative position. This means is shown in Figs. 19 and 20. ,The bearing portion III of the arm IIO engages a collar 6 which is adjustably secured to the shaft I09 by means of a set screw II'I. The end of the bearing portion III engaging the collar H6 is provided with a segmental peripheral flange 6 which is engaged by an inturned segmental flange II9 carried by the collar H6. The flange II9 retains the arm 0 against lateral movement relative to the collar H6 and permits the arm to swing independently of the collar. The

bearing portion III of the arm carries a projecting lug I20 which engages one end of the segmental flange I I9 when the arm is swung back slightly past vertical position as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 19.

To provide a removable and collapsible base for tire casings built on the core, the main drum 3,

as shown in Figs. 4, 21 and 24, carries a flexible split sleeve I2I preferably formed of rubber Each. carries a tire casing has been built on the core the tire casing. together with the sleeve I2l, are slipped axially off the end of the drum 3, and after the tire casing has been removed from the drum the rubber sleeve I2I may be collapsed and removed from the interior of the tire casing and replaced upon the drum 3.

The drum 3 is attached to the inner end of the shaft 4 inwardly of the bearing brackets 5 which support the shaft. Outwardly of the drum 3 an I auxiliary drum I22 is secured to the shaft 4. The end of the auxiliary drum I22 adjacent the drum 4 is inwardly rounded and provided with internal screw threads which receive the threads of a head I25, and the head has a flange I29 the outer edge of which provides a bead seat. The face of the head I25 abuts against the outer end of the drum 3. The flange I26 has an external diameter greater than the drum 3 but less than that of the sleeve I 2| providing a shoulder against which the end of the sleeve I2I abuts and a peripheral bead receiving recess at the end of the drum. The auxiliary drum I22 carries an inflatable rubber annulus I2'I which is collapsed upon .the periphery of the drum I22 when uninflated and which is connected through a tube I20 to a passage I29 in the shaft 4 through which air under pressure may be admitted to the interior of the annulus to inflate the same. The inner edge portion of the annulus I2! is fastened to the drum I22 by engagement of its elastic and flexible wall in the groove formed between the flange I26 and the rounded end of the drum I22 and by its connection to the tube I23,

the remainder of the annulus wall being free so 1 that the annulus may be collapsed or folded over the sleeve I2I and the annulus I21, the bottom of the groove being formed by the periphery of i which extends the full length of the drum. After 7 the flange I26, as shown in Figs. 16 and 28. In applying the fabric stock the main plies and the flipper and chafer strips are forced into this groove, providing a channel in which a bead ring may be built up.

At the end of the drum 3 opposite that at which the drum I22 is located, there is provided a slide I30 which is movable along a way "I disposed transversely-of the shaft 4. The slide I30 has a bearing portion I32 in which is journaled a shaft I33 which in one position of the slide is in axial alignment with the shaft 4. The shaft I33 is movable axially in its bearing into and out ofengagement with the end of the shaft 4, and means is provided to lock the shaft I33 to the shaft 4 for rotation therewith. The inner end of the shaft I33 carries projecting pins I34 which are adapted to fit in sockets I35 formed in the end of the shaft 4, as shown in Figs. 22 and 23. The shaft I33 may be shifted into and out of engagement with the shaft 4 by means of a lever I36 connected by a link I31 to a collar I33 rotatably mounted in a groove which is suitably formed on a shaft I33. By actuating the lever I36, the shaft I33 may be moved axially toward or away from the shaft 4 to engage or disengage the shafts. A gravity latch I39 is provided on the slide I30 for engagement with the collar I30 to prevent outward movement of the shaft I33 out of locking engagement with the shaft 4, the

latch I39 being provided with a handle I40 so the outer walls of head receiving channels, 'as

shown in Figs. 16 and 28.

The main drum 3 with its sleeve I2I together with the auxiliary drums I22 and MI with the inflatable annuli I21 and I43 form a tire building core upon which the rubber fabric and bead stock is wrapped to forma tire casing. When the fabric layers of a tire casing are applied to the core the edges of the fabric strip overlie the inflated annuli I21 and I43, as shown in Fig, 28.

After a bead ring has been formed the operator may grasp the inflatable annulus and pull the,

outer end thereof toward the drum 3, causing the annulus to collapse over the drum, as shown in Fig. 27. The collapsing of the wall of the annulus over the end portion of the drum causes the projecting edges of the fabric strips to be folded over the bead ring and to be pressed against the exterior surface of the fabric on the drum, a

shown in Fig. 29 of the drawings.

To facilitate the folding operation, means may be provided for mechanically collapsing the inflated annuli over the ends of the drum. Such a means is shown in Figs, 30 and 31 of thedrawings. The collapsing means shown consists ofa second inflatable annulus I46 underlying the outer portion of each of the annuli I21 and I43,

the annuli I46 being connected by tubes I41 with I43, preferably about 10 pounds, apressure reducing valve I62 is provided in the pipe I6I. A valve I63 operated by a lever I64 controls the flow through the pipe I6I. To insure a low pressure in the annuli 121 and I43 a safety valve I65 is provided between the valve I63 and the annuli which is set to open when subjected to the predetermined pressure. Air is conducted to the ends of the shafts and I33 through branch pipes I66 and I61. Since the shaft I33 is movable axially and laterally, tube I61 is flexible hose as shown in Figs. 2 and 3 and a universal coupling is provided between the end pipe I61 and the shaft I33. A coupling member I63 is attached to the outer end of the shaft I33 and has a ball end I63 which is rotatable in a swivel coupling member I10 on the end of the pipe I 61.

On the completion of the building of a tire carcass on the core the latch I39 is released and the lever I 36 is actuated to shift the shaft I33 outwardly clear of the drum 3, whereupon the slide I36 is moved laterally to move the auxiliary drum I to a position to one side of the drum 3 so as to permit the sleeve I2I and. the tire casing thereon to be slipped axially from the drum 4. After the casing has been removed and the sleeve I2I replaced on the drum 3 the slide I30 is moved back to position the shaft I33 in alignment with the shaft 4 and the shaft I33 is moved toward the shaft 4 by means of the lever I36 and latched in interlocking. position, whereupon another tire may be built upon the core.

In building a tire carcass, tire fabric is fed to the core by the feed conveyor 6 and. a suitable number of layers are wound upon the core. The

"flipper and chafer fabric strips are also fedfrom passages I48 in the shafts 4 and I43 through cylinders and to the inflatable annuli on the tire building drum is shown diagrammatically in Fig. 32 of the drawings. Air under pressure is supplied through a pressure line I49 through a branch pipe I5II controlled by a valve I5I to the cylinder 5I which operates the sliding clutch member 48 through which the strip feed mechanism' is operated, the valve I5I being controlled by a lever I52 which is located on the frame adfront of or alongside of the the building drum.

The successive plies of material may be very jacent the front thereof convenient to the operator as shown in Figs. 2 and 3. A branch pipe I53 controlled by a valve I54 supplies air under pressure to the cylinder 86 for operating the stitcher frame,'the valve I54 being operated by a lever I55 alongside the lever I52. Pipes I56 and I51 connect the pressure line I49 with opposite ends of the pressure cylinder 32 which operates thechange speed clutch, pipes I56 and I51 being provided with valves I 58 and I53 which are simultaneously operated by means of a lever 160'. Pressure is supplied to the inflatable annuli I21 and I43 through a pipe I6I leading from the pressure line I49. Since it is desirable to carry a low inflation pressure in 'the annuli I21 and the reels I3 and stitched to the edge portions of the carcass, the layers of fabric being pressed into the bead receiving grooves formed between the ends of the sleeve I2I and the inflatable an null I21 and I 43 to form a groove to receive the bead ring. The bead stock is then fed from the reels II into these grooves and wound tightly therein after which the inflatable annuli I21 and I43 are collapsed over the end of the drum 4 to fold the fabric back'over the bead rings. The side wall and tread stock may then be applied to the tire by feeding the same over the conveyor 6 to the core.

As clearly shown in'Figs. 2 and 3, all controlling levers are positioned at the front of the frame I convenient to the operator standing in quickly applied to the drum, the bead forming flipper and chafer strips being supported adjacent the core so that the operator may quickly and easily apply the ends of these strips to the material on the rotating core. The reels are all removably mounted and readily accessible from the rear of the machine so that these reels may be replaced by others very quickly.

Furthermore, it is to be understood that the particular form of product shown and described, and the particular procedure set forth, are presented for purposes of explanation and illustration various modifications of said product and of the main drum and axially alined therewith, each auxiliary drum having a bead seating portion atits inner end of greater diameter than the main drum and less diameter than the sleeve, means for feeding fabric and bead ring stock to said core, and an inflatable annulus carried by each of said auxiliary drums, each annulus being spaced from an end of said sleeve to provide bead ring grooves and forming a support for edges of the fabric, each annulus being carried by an auxiliary drum and collapsible over the adjacent end of the main drum to fold the fabric over a bead ring.

2. A tire building machine comprising a frame, a drum type tire building core mounted on said frame, said core comprising a main drum having a split sleeve of flexible material slidably mounted thereon, and auxiliary drums at opposite ends of the main drum and axially alined therewith, each auxiliary drum having a bead seating portion at its inner end of greater diameter than the main drum and less diameter than the sleeve, means for feeding fabric and bead ring stock to said core, an inflatable annulus carried by each of said auxiliary drums, each annulus being spaced from an end of said sleeve to provide bead ring grooves and forming a support for edges of the fabric, each annulus being carried by an auxiliary drum and collapsible over the adjacent end of the main drum to fold the fabric on a bead lapsing its inflatable annulus over the adjacent end of the main drum to fold the fabric edges over the bead ring at that end of the drum.

3. A tire building machine comprising a frame, a drum type tire building core mounted on said frame, said core comprising a main drum having a split sleeve of flexible material slidably mounted thereon and auxiliary drums at opposite ends of the main drum and axially alined therewith, each auxiliary drum having a bead seating portion at its inner end of greater diameter than the main drum and less diameter than the sleeve, means for feeding fabric and bead ring stock to said core, an inflatable annulus carried by each of said auxiliary drums, each annulus being spaced from an end of said sleeve to provide bead ring grooves and forming a support for edges of the fabric, each annulusbeing carried by an auxiliary drum and collapsible over the adjacent end of the main drum to fold the fabric over a bead ring, and a support for one of the auxiliary drums movable transversely of the core axis to permit removal of said sleeve with a tire carcass thereon from the main drum.

4, In a tire building machine, a core comprising a cylindrical drum having a split sleeveof flexible material thereon, an inflatable annuli upon which the edge portions of easing fabric wound on the core are supported, each annulus being spaced from an end of said sleeve to provide a bead receiving channel in'the core, eachv annulus being collapsible inwardly over the drum to fold the fabric edge supported thereon over a bead ring, and a support for one of said annuli mounted for movement away from the end of said drum to permit removalof said sleeve with a tire casing thereon from said drum.

5. In a tire building machine, a drum type tire building core having a cylindrical portion, bead seating portions at opposite ends of said cylindrical portion of greater diameter than the cylindrical portion, a collapsible sleeve slidably mounted on said cylindrical portion and extending from one bead seating portion to the other upon which a tire casing may be formed, the ex temal diameter of said sleeve being greater than that of the bead seating portions, and means for supporting one of said bead seating portions for movement away from said cylindrical portion to permit removal of said sleeve with a tire casing thereon from the core.

seating portions at opposite ends of said cylindrical portion of greater diameter than the cylinring, and meanscarried by each drum for coldrical portion, a collapsible sleeve slidably mounted on said cylindrical portion and extending from one bead seating portion to the other upon which a tire casing may be formed, said sleeve being formed of rubber and being split axially to enable it to be collapsed and removed from the interior of a tire casing, the external diameter of said sleeve being greater than that of the bead seating portions, and means for supporting one of said bead seating portions for movement away from said cylindrical portion to permit removal of said sleeve with a tire casing thereon from the core.

'7. In a tire building machine, a drum type tire building core comprising a main drum having a split sleeve of flexible material slidably mounted thereon, auxiliary drums at opposite ends of the main drum and axially alined therewith, each auxiliary drum having a bead seat at its inner end of greater diameter than the main drum and less diameter than said sleeve and a movable support for one of said drums whereby the latter may be moved away from an end of said main drum to permit removal of said sleeve with a tire casing thereon.

8. A tire building machine comprising a frame,

a horizontal shaft journalled in the frame and having a projecting end portion, a drum flxed'to the projecting end portion of said shaft, means for driving said shaft, a support mounted on the frame for movement transversely of said shaft, a second shaft carried by said support and mounted for rotative and axia movements in the support, the second shaft, in one position of said substantially cylindrical portion upon' which a tire casing may be built, an auxiliary drum at each end of the main drum and axially alined therewith, each auxiliary drum having a bead seating portion at its inner end, and an inflatable annulus carried by each auxiliary drum, said annuli-being adapted to support the edges of the fabric wound on the core, each annulus being of a size and shape to collapse to substantially cylindrical form on its drum when uninflated, whereby upon inflation each annulus has an in ner portion of substantial width bearing against the surface of its drum, each annulus being fastened to an auxiliary drum adjacent its inner edge only whereby each annulus may be rolled inwardly over the main drum to fold the edges of the fabric over the bead rings.

10. A tire building machine comprising a frame, a drum type core mounted on said frame, said core comprising a main drum having a collapsible substantially cylindrical portion upon which a tire casing may built, an auxiliary drum at each end of the main drum and axially alined therewith, .each auxiliary drum having a bead seating portion at its inner end, an inflatable annulus carried by each auxiliary drum, said annuli being adapted to support the edges of the fabric wound on the core, each annulus being of a size and shape to collapse to substantially cylindrical form on its drum when uninflated, whereby upon inflation each annulus has an inner portion of substantial width bearing against the surface of its drum, each annulus being fastened to an auxiliary drum adjacent its inner edge only whereby each annulus may be rolled inwardly over the main drum to fold the edges of the fabric over the bead rings, and means carried by each of the auxiliary drums for forcing the outer edge portions of the inflatable annuli inwardly toward said drum to collapse said annuli over the drum and fold the edge portions of the fabric over the bead rings.

ll. A tire building machine comprising a frame,

.1 a drum type core mounted on said frame, said core comprising a main drum having a collapsible substantially cylindrical portion upon which a tire casing may be built; an auxiliary drum at each end of the main drum and axially alined therewith, each auxiliary drum having a bead seating portion at its inner end, an inflatable annulus carried by each auxiliary drum, said annuli being adapted to support the edges of the fabric wound on the core, each annulus being of a size and shape to collapse to substantially cylindrical form on its drum when uninflated, whereby upon inflation each annulus has an inner portion of substantial width bearing against the surface of its drum, each annulus being fastened to an auxiliary drum adjacent its inner edge only whereby each annulus may be rolled inwardly over the main drum to fold the edges of the fabric over the bead rings, a second inflatable annulus carried by each auxiliary drum, the second inflatable annulus of each drum underlying the first, and means for supplying fluid under pressure independently to the inflatable annuli of each auxiliary drum.

12. In a tire building machine, a tire building core having a central collapsible fabric receiving member of substantially cylindrical form, bead seats at opposite ends of said cylindrical member which are of less diameter than said cylindrical member and inflatable annuli mounted at the outer sides of said bead seats, said annuli when inflated having inner side walls projecting outwardly past said head seats and forming the outer walls of bead receiving channels.

13. A tire building machine comprising a tire building core having a central collapsible fabric receiving member of substantially cylindrical form, bead seats at opposite ends of said cylin drical member which are of less diameter than said cylindrical member, inflatable annuli mounted at the outer sides of said bead seats, said annuli when inflated having inner side walls projecting outwardly past said bead seats and forming the outer wall of bead receiving channels, means for driving said core, means for feeding fabric to said core, and means for applying wire bead stock to the fabric on the core, including pressure applying rollers engageable in the bead receiving channels.

WAL'I'ER J. BRE'I'l-I. MAX ENGMJR. HERMAN T. KRAFT. 

